The Knockout (1914) - Charlie Chaplin Old Colorized Movie

The Pugilist and the Referee: A Star-Studded Keystone Battle

Released on June 11, 1914, **The Knockout** (also known as **Counted Out** or **The Pugilist**) is a frenetic **two-reeler** that serves as a powerful showcase for **Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle**, with **Charles Chaplin** taking a prominent supporting role as the increasingly hapless boxing referee. Directed by the Keystone boss **Mack Sennett** and featuring a story by Chaplin, this **Short Comedy** is a landmark of the **Keystone Film Company** era, bringing together three of the most important figures in early slapstick.

The film centers on Fatty, a good-natured but easily provoked man trying to impress his sweetheart, played by **Minta Durfee**. When a local tough guy challenges the reigning boxing champion, **Cyclone Flynn**, Fatty impulsively takes the challenge instead, proving his courage and setting the stage for the chaotic match.

The Boxing Ring Turns into Bedlam

The boxing match is the main event and the central stage for the film's signature **slapstick comedy**. The fight itself is far from fair, involving an array of underhanded tactics, illegal blows, and outright cheating from both sides. **Charles Chaplin**, as the referee, attempts to maintain order, but his efforts only draw the ire of the fighters and, eventually, the entire crowd. He is punched, dragged, and generally abused, turning his role from an authority figure into a victim of the surrounding mayhem. This sequence perfectly uses Chaplin's evolving physical comedy and the anarchic energy of the **Keystone** style.

As the chaos spills out of the ring, the famous **Keystone Kops** arrive, leading to a sprawling chase that encapsulates the studio’s trademark disorder. Gags abound, including a dramatic chase across the rooftop of the **Mack Sennett Studios** and an attempted escape using a ladder, which culminates in an array of **pratfalls** and general comic disorder. The film is peppered with recognizable faces from the Keystone troupe, including **Charley Chase** and **Edgar Kennedy**, making it a quintessential silent comedy ensemble piece.

The AI Colorization and Restoration

This presented version of **The Knockout** has undergone modern digital enhancement, including **AI colorization** using advanced tools like **DeOldify** and **ESRGAN**. Although originally produced in **Black and White**, this new coloring technique revitalizes the energy of the 1914 production, making the action and the large cast of characters easier to follow for modern audiences. The clear **1.33:1 aspect ratio** ensures that the fast-paced, sprawling action directed by Sennett is fully preserved.